OMG!!!! … I have new respect for Bush. He’s really good at ducking, it turns out.

Yes, yes, indeed. In Arab culture (which may or may not pertain to Iraq, depending on ethnicity) the sole of the FOOT is very very dirty. I don’t know so much about the sole of the shoe. But I’m thinking that you don’t throw your shoe at someone because you like them. (As is done in certain cultures, of course.)

Back in the 80s, my Dad traveled to Saudi Arabia to help them plan a national park system. Before going over, he attended some cultural awareness classes sponsored by the State Department. One of the ‘no-no’s’ on the list was crossing your legs, or putting your legs up, in a way that points the sole of your shoe towards a person. This is, he was told, quite insulting. Of course, his hosts in SA were aware of American habits and told him not to be too concerned with all the horror stories the State Department told. It is only an insult if done intentionally.

In Iraq, showing the sole of a shoe (intentionally) to another person is a very effective insult. The connotations can include (but are not limited to), “I step on you,” “You are dog feces on my shoe,” “You are the dirt under my shoe,” and “I will stomp you.” The insults range from passive (you are dirt) to aggresive (I will stomp upon you). Either way, its an insult.

US troops in Iraq are, in many areas, routinely greeted with shoes held up with the soles facing them. That said, I have never run across the idea of actually throwing the shoe. I guess if the executors of the policy are shown the sole, the creator of the policy gets the whole shoe. Twice.

Where’s MacNelly when you need him? One of his editorial cartoons would have been wonderful.

It’s obvious the guy who threw the shoes was doing his best to be as insulting as possible(otherwise he would have probably thrown a tomato or something). This, as others have commented, makes sense in that culture, since feet, which touch the ground, and by extension, shoes, are, well, unclean. And the guy apparently also shouted out “This is the end, you dog!”, which, at least in that culture, would just have reinforced the insult. He was obviously very angry and upset. While I believe people should respect the office of President of the United States, I really don’t blame the guy, under the circumstances — it’s Iraq, and this stupid war has been going on for nearly five years now.
Anne G

Hmmm, I’ve spent a good bit of time in Saudi. I was stationed (while in the military/USAF 1991-92 and 1995-97 and 2000-2001) in the capital Riyadh; and besides shoes, the left hand (which one uses for personal sanitation purposes), and the “Evil Eye” which is still a mystery to me were considered TABOO.